Reappraisal of Economic Development

<p>What have the social sciences to show for decades of systematic investigation of the problems of economic development? What basic problems have they solved and what remains to be done in the development of viable theoretical approaches to this area of research and policy? In an unusually open discussion thirty-three experts from the fields of anthropology economics political science geography sociology and agriculture here present a stimulating re-examination of their accomplishments and mutual problems of the progress the disciplines have made and that which remains.</p><p>The increased interest of social scientists in their sister disciplines has not been stimulated solely by intellectual exploration into the problems that they share and the particular insights each provides. Much of the interest stems from the groping and searching concern of field workers who find themselves investigating problems and systems which cannot be understood adequately in terms of a single kind of analysis be it political social cultural historical or psychological. Fieldwork thrusts upon them the realization that their professional areas of concern overlap and converge upon aspects of life which traditionally (or academically) lie in the domains of other disciplines.</p><p><em>A Reappraisal of Economic Development</em> is distinguished by the vitality and spark of scholars of different disciplines interacting with each other. The book's formal essays are deliberately short leaving the bulk of the volume to intensive cross-disciplinary investigation of the positions accomplishments and proposals of the speakers and their critics. The result is a fruitful re-evaluation of the political social and geographic forces affecting economic development in emerging nations and a useful handbook for anyone dealing with the varied problems of foreign aid health and educational development labor organization and foreign business.</p><p><em>Andrew H. Whiteford</em> was George L. Collie Professor of Anthropology Beloit College and director Logan Museum of Anthropology Beloit. For a twenty-year period he also served as the chair of the department of anthropology at Beloit. After retiring he became active in the Indian Arts Research Center at the School of American Research the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian and the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.</p>